The role of the farmer has never been more important. In the coming decades, agriculture's ability to meet the demands of our growing global population in an increasingly sustainable way will be vitally important. Farmers will have to grow more on existing farmland and effectively mitigate challenges from weather and threats - such as bugs, weeds and resource scarcity. Innovation will be central to helping farmers do more with less, and manage the challenges that prevent food and crops from making it to harvest.


Monsanto Company's investment in a wide range of agriculture solutions is helping farmers better address the core challenges they face on farm and to continue to increase the amount of food and crops they're able to produce.


The company showcased a range of new developments as part of its annual research and development update -- highlighting its commitment to deliver sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers have better harvests and make a balanced meal more accessible for everyone. 

Click or tap here to read more about Monsanto's research and development priorities- as they share details of their pipeline of innovation for the new year.  

After a year that saw the feeder cattle futures market get ahead of the value of live cattle futures- this past December saw volatility show up in a big way in those Feeder Cattle contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  Livestock Marketing Information Center Executive Director Jim Robb said going into mid-December the feeder cattle market prices were probably a little inflated from the fundamentals.


"We had estimated break-evens for feedyards very high, up to $190 per hundred weight in our estimates," Robb said. "And we flipped that over to the futures markets side, we often talk about, industry people, talk about the crush and on the futures side that difference between fed cattle prices and feeder cattle prices was even more exacerbated, so the futures market really did unwind."


After what happened in December- one of the questions going forward- how much volatility will be seen here in 2015 in our livestock futures?  Jim Robb tells us in this edition of the Beef Buzz that he sees more swings up and down as the market will have to deal with tight supplies of beef balanced against more plentiful competing meats.  

Jim Robb continues to be our guest on our radio feature, the Beef Buzz.  Click or tap here to listen to his comments on the volatility outlook for 2015.   

Allendale Releases Annual Production,Grain Stocks, and Winter Wheat Acre Estimates

Allendale has released their latest annual production, stocks and winter wheat seeding estimate. Allendale lowered U.S. corn and soybean acres and production, while increasing winter wheat plantings.


Allendale lowered planted acres by 223,000 (90.662 mil) and harvested by 436,000 (82.661 mil). Yield is increased to 173.87. Implied first quarter usage from the Grain Stocks report, September - November, is seen at a record 4.5 billion.


Soybean planted acres have been lowered by 110,000 acres (84.074 mil) and harvested by 192,000 (83.211 mil). Yield is seen at 48.04. Implied first quarter usage of 1.470 billion would be a record.

Click or tap here to read more about Allendale's estimate on winter wheat acres.  

Many soybeans have been delivered to the elevator, but where will they go next? The soy checkoff invites farmers to find the answer to this question and learn about the impact that U.S. soy's biggest customers make on farmers' bottom lines during this year's See for Yourself program.


From now until April 4, all U.S. soybean farmers over the age of 18 can apply for the United Soybean Board's (USB's) eighth annual See for Yourself program by visiting the USB website, by clicking here. The program is scheduled for July 24-31.


Besides introducing the program participants to their customers and showing them the results of their checkoff investment, See for Yourself also allows the soy checkoff to learn about U.S. soybean farmers' perspective of checkoff-funded projects.


"It's not every day farmers have the chance to see the activities of their checkoff up close and draw their own conclusions at the same time," says Keith Tapp, chair of the USB Audit and Evaluation Committee, which sponsors See for Yourself. "See for Yourself is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
 

Click or tap here to learn more about the "See for Yourself" Program.

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains-  Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

Crop Protection Helps Growers Produce Nutritious Food

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that over 99 percent of fresh and processed food available to consumers tested below allowable pesticide residue levels, allowing for continued access to affordable and nutritious food across the country. Released on December 19, 2014 by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the 23rd Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Report shows that only .23 percent of the products sampled through the PDP had residues above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established tolerances. PDP researchers collected and tested 9,900 samples of bananas, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, mushrooms, peaches, plums, summer and winter squash, and other produce-all nutritious foods that Americans should continue to include in their diets.


National health organizations agree that fruits and vegetables are integral to a long, healthy life. The American Heart Association advises consumers to "Buy more fruits and vegetables that are good sources of fiber, including beans, peas, oranges, bananas, strawberries and apples." The American Cancer Society notes that "vegetables, fruits, and whole grains should form the central part of a person's diet, regardless of whether they are grown conventionally or organically."


Through modern agricultural practices, including the responsible use of pesticides, American agriculture helps bring nutritious food to the table at a decreased price. According to a socio-economic report completed by CropLife America (CLA) in 2011, crop protection products help American families save more than 40 percent on fruit and vegetable purchases.   

Click or tap here to read how the use of crop protection products adds $82 billion in increased yields for field, nut, fruit, and vegetable crops.

This N That- Inhofe Sets EPW Agenda, Superior Sets Bellringer and Last Call for Sorghum U

Phillip Brasher with Agri-Pulse has details about the agenda setting being done this week by the new Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee in the Senate, Oklahoma's Senior Senator Jim Inhofe.   

Inhofe told reporters as he takes over as the lead Senator of the Committee from Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer that  "the two years ahead of us will be active and ambitious as we seek to champion fiscally responsible policies as well as adhere to guiding principles from the Constitution to serve the betterment of the American people and our economy."

The committee chairman's agenda includes a promise to conduct "rigorous oversight of EPA regulations," including the proposed rule defining the waters of the United States" (WOTUS) that are regulated under the Clean Water Act. 

Click here to read more about plans being made by Inhofe and GOP lawmakers that are a part of his Committee.

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Details for Bellringer XXVIII have been set by the folks at Superior Livestock Auction.  The sale is planned for next week, January 15 and 16 in Denver to coincide with the National Western Stock Show. The sale will be seen live at the Embassy Suites- Stapleton in Denver and will feature 65,000 head of cattle for the two day sale.  

For details about the sale that will be seen on Rural TV as well as via Superior Click to Bid on the internet, click here for a rundown of the cattle being sold next Thursday and Friday.

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I wanted to remind you about the Sorghum U event planned for tomorrow at the Enid Convention Center in downtown Enid- first thing tomorrow morning, we will be moderating a farmer panel of crop producers that utilize grain sorghum as one of the crops they produce- and the rest of the agenda looks great as well.  

Click here for more details- registration is free but they need to know that you are coming. (Click on the "Participate as an Individual" choice.